Plantaginaceae
50–150 cm
Woodland
Purple-pink
A towering spike of thimble-shaped purple bells, beloved by bumblebees and the source of the heart medicine digitalis.
Natural History
The Foxglove is one of Britain's most dramatic and recognisable wildflowers, sending up tall spikes of tubular, purple-pink bells that can reach 1.5 metres in height. Each individual flower is a masterpiece of evolution — the interior is spotted with white and dark purple markings that guide bumblebees deep into the tube to collect nectar, ensuring effective pollination. The plant is biennial, forming a rosette of large, soft, grey-green leaves in its first year before sending up its magnificent flowering spike in the second. Foxgloves are highly toxic — every part of the plant contains cardiac glycosides — yet this very toxicity led to one of medicine's great discoveries. In 1785, physician William Withering identified that an extract of foxglove (digitalis) could treat heart failure, a discovery that revolutionised cardiology.
Habitats
Key Pollinators
Traditional Uses
Source of digitalis, used in heart medicine. All parts are highly toxic if ingested. Never consume any part of this plant.
Did You Know?
The discovery of digitalis from Foxglove by William Withering in 1785 is considered one of the most important advances in the history of medicine.
Related Species
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Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Britain's most beloved woodland flower, carpeting ancient forests in a haze of violet-blue each April and May.
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Allium ursinum
Star-shaped white flowers and broad, glossy leaves that fill damp woodland with an unmistakable garlicky scent each spring.
Primrose
Primula vulgaris
The delicate pale-yellow herald of spring, nestling in hedgebanks and woodland edges from February onwards.